Pakistani forces have shut down Afghan migrant camps in Loralai, Girdi Jungle, Saranan, Zhob, Qila Saifullah, and Muslim Bagh in Balochistan, which had housed Afghan refugees for decades.
Kabul 24: Migrants have been forcibly evicted, and their homes and shops demolished, disrupting the lives of thousands who had settled in Pakistan over the years.
Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Girdi Jungle camp, said, “They didn’t even give me time to collect my belongings and threatened to burn them if I didn’t leave.” This reflects the intense pressure on migrants to abandon their homes swiftly.
Wali Mohammad, a coordinator for public aid to Afghan migrants in Chaman, criticized the move, stating, “We urge the Pakistani government to respect human rights during the forced deportation of Afghan migrants.
While some countries grant citizenship to Afghans within five years, Pakistan has not done so even after decades.” He called for adherence to humanitarian standards in the process.
Evicted migrants returning to Afghanistan report arriving empty-handed and in dire need of shelter and urgent humanitarian aid. Khaliqdad, a recent returnee, said, “We need shelter and food assistance until we can start over.
After decades away, we’re strangers in our own country.” These accounts highlight the precarious situation of returnees who lack basic necessities.Local authorities have expressed alarm over the unprecedented surge in forcibly deported Afghan migrants.
Abdul Latif Hakimi, responsible for registering migrants in Spin Boldak, stated, “The situation for Afghan migrants in Pakistan is deteriorating.
We’ve received reports of forced expulsions from all regions, causing an unprecedented rise in returnees.” According to officials, over the past five days, 13,504 individuals have crossed back into Afghanistan via Spin Boldak, including hundreds of former prisoners.
The mass expulsion and destruction of camps have raised concerns about a looming humanitarian crisis, with returnees urgently requiring support to rebuild their lives in Afghanistan.
